Signaling media, apparatus, and systems

ABSTRACT

Connectors, signaling assemblies, circuit boards, and communication systems are disclosed. Some embodiments include signaling media having a plurality of optical and electrical signal conductors.

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/995,434, filed on Nov. 27, 2001, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The embodiments disclosed relate generally to media and apparatusused to carry electrical and optical signals.

BACKGROUND

[0003] High-speed microprocessor systems may give rise to the need forhigh-speed signal interfaces. While microprocessor clock operationalspeeds now routinely exceed 1 GHz, off-board input/output interfacestypically run at speeds of less than 100 MHz. This limitation may exist,in part, due to crosstalk between adjacent electrical channels. Whileelectrical conductors can be spaced apart to reduce the problem, theloss of circuit board surface area and connection density may not betolerable. Over distance, signal amplitude loss and noise may alsobecome a problem.

[0004] Optical media may carry signals having modulation frequencies inexcess of several GHz without appreciable loss of signal strength or anincrease in noise over distance. However, a purely optical interface isoften not required for routine interface operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is an end section view of a signaling medium according tovarious embodiments of the invention;

[0006]FIG. 2 is an end section view of a signaling medium according tovarious embodiments of the invention;

[0007]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector and signaling assemblyaccording to various embodiments of the invention;

[0008]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a circuit board according to variousembodiments of the invention; and

[0009]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a signal communication systemaccording to various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010]FIG. 1 is an end section view of a signaling medium according tovarious embodiments of the invention. The signaling medium 100 includesa plurality of spaced apart optical signal media 110, and a plurality ofelectrical signal conductors 120. At least one, and usually several, ofthe electrical signal conductors 120 is disposed between selected onesof the plurality of optical signal media 110. As used herein, “disposedbetween” means that the center of a selected electrical signalconductor, along with the center of two selected optical signal media,forms an angle which is between about 50 degrees and about 180 degrees.Thus, for example, the center 121 of one of the electrical signalconductors 120 forms the apex of an angle α, when taken in conjunctionwith imaginary lines drawn from the center 121 to the centers 122 and123 of selected optical signal media 110. In this case, the angle α isabout 180 degrees. Similarly, the center 121 of one of the electricalsignal conductors 120 is located at the apex of an angle β, when takenin conjunction with imaginary lines drawn from the center 121 to thecenters 123 and 124 of selected optical signal media 110. In this case,the angle β is about 90 degrees. As a further example, the center 125 ofanother selected electrical conductor 120 is disposed between theoptical signal media 110 having centers 123 and 124. Thus, theelectrical signal conductors 120 having centers 121 and 125 are disposedbetween the optical signal media 110 having centers 123 and 124.

[0011] In some embodiments, the signaling medium 100 may also include anelectrically conductive shield 126 surrounding the optical signal media110 and the electrical signal conductors 120. To prevent shorting to theelectrical signal conductors 120, the shield 126 may be spaced apartfrom the electrical signal conductors 120.

[0012]FIG. 2 is an end section view of a signaling medium according tovarious embodiments of the invention. In this case, the signaling medium200 illustrates how several pluralities of optical signal media 210,along with several pluralities of electrical signal conductors 220,might be arranged into groups. Each group includes an electricallyconductive shield 226 surrounding one plurality of spaced apart opticalsignal media 210 and another plurality of electrical signal conductors220. While each shield 226 is spaced apart from pluralities ofelectrical signal conductors 220 which it surrounds, each shield 226 inthe medium 200 is typically connected or electrically coupled to anothershield 226 at some point 227 along its periphery.

[0013] Within each shield 226, it can be seen that the electrical signalconductors 220 each have a cross-sectional area A1, while the opticalsignal media 210 each have a cross-sectional area A2. The medium 200 maybe designed so that the cross-sectional area A1 of each one of theelectrical signal connectors 220 within a shield 226 grouping will liewithin a substantially circular area 228. Similarly, the medium 200 maybe designed so that the cross-sectional area A2 of each one of theoptical signal connectors 210 within a shield 226 grouping will also liewithin a substantially circular area 229. If the optical signal media210 lie toward the outer periphery of each shield 226 grouping, then thediameter of the substantially circular area 228 surrounding theelectrical signal conductors 220 may be less than the diameter of thesubstantially circular area 229 surrounding the optical signal media210. Another electrically conductive shield 230 may be electricallycoupled to each of the shields 226, and located so as to surround all ofthe shield 226 groupings of optical signal media and electrical signalconductors 210, 220.

[0014] Further details regarding construction of the signaling medium insome embodiments can be seen in FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of aconnector and signaling assembly according to various embodiments of theinvention. In this case, the medium 300 may include a plurality ofspaced apart optical signal media 310, each having a longitudinal axis332, and a plurality of electrical signal conductors 320, each having alongitudinal axis 334. If desired, the medium 300 may be constructed sothat the longitudinal axes 332 of each of the optical signal media 310lie substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 332 of every otherone of the plurality of optical signal media 310. Similarly, the medium300 may be designed so that the longitudinal axes 334 of each one of theelectrical signal conductors 320 lie substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis 334 of every other one of the plurality of electricalsignal conductors 320. An electrically conductive shield 326 may belocated so as to surround the pluralities of optical signal media andelectrical signal conductors 310, 320.

[0015] A connector according to yet another embodiment of the inventionis also shown in FIG. 3. The connector 340 may include a plurality ofspaced apart optical signal terminations 342 and a plurality ofelectrical signal terminations 344. As is the case with the varioustypes of conductors described with respect to the medium of someembodiments, the electrical signal terminations 344 may be disposedbetween selected optical signal terminations 342. For example, theelectrical signal termination 346 may be considered to be disposedbetween the optical signal terminations 347, 348. Alternatively, andsimultaneously, the electrical signal termination 346 may also beconsidered to be disposed between the optical signal terminations 348,349. The connector 340 may also include an electrically conductiveshield termination 352 spaced apart from the plurality of electricalsignal terminations 344. Of course, while not explicitly shown in FIG.3, the connector 340 may also includes several groupings of terminations342, 344, and multiple shield terminations 352, so as to enable couplingdirectly to a signaling medium 300, constructed in a fashion which issimilar to or identical to the signaling medium 200 shown in FIG. 2.

[0016] A signaling assembly according to yet another embodiment of theinvention is also shown in FIG. 3. The signaling assembly 366 mayinclude a connector 340 coupled to a signaling medium 300, such that oneor more pluralities of optical signal media 310, along with one or morepluralities of electrical signal conductors 320, terminate in theconnector 340. The board connection for electrical conductors may bedesigned to have a matching termination impedance. One or moreelectrically conductive shields 326, surrounding one or morecorresponding groups of optical signal media and electrical signalconductors 310, 320 may also terminate in the connector 340.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a circuit board according to variousembodiments of the invention. The circuit board 470 may include aplurality of spaced apart optical signal terminations 472 and aplurality of electrical signal terminations 474. One or more of theplurality of electrical signal terminations 474 may be disposed betweenselected ones of the plurality of optical signal terminations 472.

[0018] As a practical matter, during operation of the circuitry 476attached to the circuit board 470, such as a microprocessor or otherintegrated circuit 476, electrical signals produced thereby or receivedthereat may be conducted to and from the terminations 472, 474 usingelectrical conductors, such as circuit traces 478. The electricalsignals may be converted to optical signals, and vice-versa, using oneor more optical signal transmitters, receivers, or transceivers 480. Forexample, the optical signal transceivers 480 may be functionally and/orstructurally similar to, or identical to Intel-LightLogic TRN4035optical transponders, and/or Alvesta 3200 multi-channel transceivers. Inthis manner selected electrical signals originating at the circuitry476, or received by the circuitry 476, may be converted to opticalsignals by the transceivers 480 for communication with off-boardcircuitry using the optical signal terminations 472. Alternatively,electrical signals may simply be left in their original state forcommunication with off-board circuitry using the electrical signalterminations 474. The circuit board 470 may also include a connector 440in optical communication with the plurality of optical signalterminations 472, and in electrical communication with the plurality ofelectrical signal terminations 474.

[0019] The connector 440 may be similar to or identical to the connector340 in FIG. 3, and may include an electrically conductive shieldtermination 484 spaced apart from the plurality of electrical signalterminations 474. In a typical embodiment, the conductive shield may beelectrically connected to a ground plane in the circuit board 470, whichalong with the connector 440, may also include multiple groups of pluraloptical and electrical signal terminations, along with severalelectrically conductive shield terminations.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a signal communication systemaccording to various embodiments of the invention. The signalcommunication system 590 includes at least two circuit boards 570, eachof which may include a plurality of spaced apart optical signalterminations 572 and a plurality of electrical signal terminations 574.One or more of the plurality of electrical signal terminations 574 willtypically be disposed between selected ones of the plurality of opticalsignal terminations 572 on each board 570. The system 590 also includesa signaling medium 500 with one or more pluralities of spaced apartoptical signal media 510 capable of being in optical communication withoptical signal terminations 572, and one or more pluralities ofelectrical signal conductors 520 capable of being in electricalcommunication with the electrical signal terminations 574. Generally, atleast one of the electrical signal conductors 520 will be disposedbetween selected ones of the optical signal media 510. The signalcommunication system 590 may further include an electrically conductiveshield 528 surrounding the optical signal media and electrical signalconductors 510, 520. As noted previously, the conductive shield 528 willtypically be spaced apart from the electrical signal conductors 520 toprevent shorting. The system 590 may also include multiple groups ofplural optical and electrical signal terminations, along with severalelectrically conductive shield terminations. The medium 500 may besimilar to, or identical to the signaling media 100, 200, and 300illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, respectively.

[0021] One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the media,connectors, connector assemblies, circuit boards, and communicationssystems of various embodiments can be used in other applications, andthus, the disclosed embodiments are not to be so limited. Theillustrations of a medium 100, 200, 300, 500; a connector 340, 440; aconnector assembly 366; a circuit board 470, 570; and a signalcommunications system 590 are intended to provide a generalunderstanding of the structure of various embodiments, and are notintended to serve as a complete description of all the elements andfeatures of media, connectors, connector assemblies, circuit boards, andcommunications systems which might make use of the structures describedherein.

[0022] Applications which may include the novel media, connectors,connector assemblies, circuit board and communications systems of thepresent invention include electronic circuitry used in high-speedcomputers, communications ports and other equipment, modems, processormodules, embedded processors, and application-specific modules,including multilayer, multi-chip modules. Such media, connectors,connector assemblies, circuit boards, and communications systems mayfurther be included as sub-components within a variety of electronicsystems, such as televisions, cellular telephones, personal computers,personal radios, automobiles, aircraft, and others.

[0023] The signaling media, connectors, connector assemblies, circuitboards, and communications systems of the disclosed embodiments canprovide design flexibility, offering both electrical and optical signalconnection capability. Both high and low bandwidth signals can beaccommodated, allowing the designer to trade bandwidth for cost, alongwith minimizing electromagnetic interference between signals.

[0024] The accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, show by way ofillustration, and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which thesubject matter may be practiced. The embodiments illustrated aredescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the teachings disclosed herein. Other embodiments may beutilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. This Detailed Description, therefore, is not to betaken in a limiting sense, and the scope of various embodiments isdefined only by the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled. Such embodiments of theinventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/orcollectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and withoutintending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to anysingle invention or inventive concept if more than one is in factdisclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated anddescribed herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangementcalculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for thespecific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any andall adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations ofthe above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically describedherein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing theabove description.

[0025] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader toquickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in theforegoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features aregrouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require morefeatures than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as thefollowing claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than allfeatures of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims arehereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate embodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A connector, comprising: a first plurality ofoptical signal terminations; and a first plurality of electrical signalterminations, wherein at least one of the first plurality of electricalsignal terminations is disposed between a selected first one and aselected second one of the first plurality of optical signalterminations.
 2. The connector of claim 1, further comprising: anelectrically conductive shield termination spaced apart from the firstplurality of electrical signal terminations.
 3. The connector of claim1, comprising: a second plurality of optical signal terminations; asecond plurality of electrical signal terminations, wherein at least oneof the second plurality of electrical signal terminations is disposedbetween a selected first one and a selected second one of the secondplurality of optical signal terminations.
 4. The connector of claim 3,further comprising: a first electrically conductive shield terminationspaced apart from the first plurality of electrical signal terminations;and a second electrically conductive shield termination spaced apartfrom the second plurality of electrical signal terminations.
 5. Asignaling assembly, comprising: a connector; a first plurality ofoptical signal media terminating in the connector; and a first pluralityof electrical signal conductors terminating in the connector, wherein atleast one of the first plurality of electrical signal conductors isdisposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of thefirst plurality of optical signal media.
 6. The signaling assembly ofclaim 5, further comprising: an first electrically conductive shieldterminating in the connector and surrounding the first plurality ofoptical signal media and the first plurality of electrical signalconductors.
 7. The signaling assembly of claim 6, further comprising: ansecond electrically conductive shield terminating in the connector andcoupled to the first electrically conductive shield.
 8. The signalingassembly of claim 5, further comprising: a first electrically conductiveshield terminating in the connector and surrounding the first pluralityof optical signal media and the first plurality of electrical signalconductors; a second plurality of optical signal media terminating inthe connector; a second plurality of electrical signal conductorsterminating in the connector, wherein at least one of the secondplurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between a selectedfirst one and a selected second one of the second plurality of opticalsignal media; and a second electrically conductive shield terminating inthe connector and surrounding the second plurality of optical signalmedia and the second plurality of electrical signal conductors.
 9. Acircuit board, comprising: a first plurality of optical signalterminations; and a first plurality of electrical signal terminations,wherein at least one of the first plurality of electrical signalterminations is disposed between a selected first one and a selectedsecond one of the first plurality of optical signal terminations. 10.The circuit board of claim 9, further comprising: a connector in opticalcommunication with the first plurality of optical signal terminationsand in electrical communication with the first plurality of electricalsignal terminations.
 11. The circuit board of claim 10, wherein theconnector includes a second plurality of optical signal terminations anda second plurality of electrical signal terminations, and wherein atleast one of the second plurality of electrical signal terminations isdisposed between a selected first one and a selected second one of thesecond plurality of optical signal terminations.
 12. The circuit boardof claim 9, further comprising: a plurality of optical transceiverscapable of optical communication with the first plurality of opticalsignal terminations.
 13. The circuit board of claim 9, furthercomprising: an electrically conductive shield termination spaced apartfrom the first plurality of electrical signal terminations.
 14. A signalcommunication system, comprising: a first circuit board including afirst plurality of optical signal terminations and a first plurality ofelectrical signal terminations, wherein at least one of the firstplurality of electrical signal terminations is disposed between aselected first one and a selected second one of the first plurality ofoptical signal terminations; and a second circuit board including asecond plurality of optical signal terminations and a second pluralityof electrical signal terminations, wherein the first plurality ofoptical signal terminations is capable of optical communication with thesecond plurality of optical signal terminations, and wherein the firstplurality of electrical signal terminations is capable of electricalcommunication with the second plurality of electrical signalterminations.
 15. The signal communication system of claim 14, furthercomprising: a signaling medium including a plurality of optical signalmedia coupled to the first and the second pluralities of optical signalterminations, and a plurality of electrical signal conductors coupled tothe first and the second pluralities of electrical signal terminations.16. The signal communication system of claim 15, wherein at least one ofthe plurality of electrical signal conductors is disposed between aselected first one and a selected second one of the plurality of opticalsignal media.
 17. The signal communication system of claim 15, furthercomprising: an electrically conductive shield surrounding the pluralityof optical signal media and the plurality of electrical signalconductors.
 18. The signal communication system of claim 15, whereineach one of the plurality of optical signal media has a longitudinalaxis and a cross-sectional area, wherein the longitudinal axis of the atleast one of the plurality of optical signal media lies substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of every other one of the plurality ofoptical signal media, and wherein the cross-sectional area of at leastsome of the plurality of optical signal media lies within a firstsubstantially circular area.
 19. The signal communication system ofclaim 18, wherein each one of the plurality of electrical signalconductors has a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area, whereinthe longitudinal axis of at least one of the plurality of electricalsignal conductors lies substantially parallel to the longitudinal axisof every other one of the plurality of electrical signal conductors, andwherein the cross-sectional area of at least some of the plurality ofelectrical signal conductors lies within a second substantially circulararea.